Firearm



. D. M WILLIAMS FIREARM Filed Oct. 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

DAVID MWILLIAMS A TTORNEY J. 24 1939- D. M WILLIAMS FIREARM;

Filed Oct. 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .EPHIWHIIIIHI:

m a a mm W F Wm ow vm mm mm mm A TTORNEYS.

- Patented den. 24, 1939 was oasis 2,144,951 FIREARM David M. Williams, Godwin, N. 0.

Application October 15,

22 Claims.

This invention relates to firearms, and contemplates a mechanism whereby any part or all of the functions incident to breech opening, shell ejection and reloading, are performed by the use of power derived from deformation of a part of the cartridge shell under firing pressure.

One object of the invention is to construct an autoloading shoulder gun of the most desirable external appearance. Mechanism of prior autoloading guns has invariably been such that their appearance was not desirable, they were clumsy, and often poorly balanced. The present invention comprises autoloading mechanism which is completely housed within a frame having substantially the appearance of a hammerless, single barrel, single shot gun with fixed fore-end, the balance and appearance of these guns being generally regarded as most desirable. Optionally, a siding fore-end, such as that ordinarily used upon repeating slide action guns, may be provided, and the gun is so designed that it may be readily converted into a manually operated repeater if desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the deformation of a part of the cartridgeshell under the pressure incident to firing and to utilize this deformation for initiating the movement of mechanism which performs any or all of the functions of breech opening, shell ejection and reloading.

A'further object of the invention is to provide a gun comprising a locked breech with automatic operating mechanism so designed that the breech remains locked for a substantial interval after firing, notwithstanding the movement necessary for breech opening and other functions is derived from the firing pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a firearm comprising a breech mechanism which is locked by a separate slidable' locking and breech block actuating member with mechanism the -movement of which is initiated by the deformation ofthe cartridge shell under firing pressure, and is applied after a brief interval to the breech locking member, which member has a substantial movement prior to breech unlocking, with the result that the projectile or shot charge has left the barrel and the chamber pressure is greatly reduced before breech unlocking is effected or permitted.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists incertain novel combinations and arrangements of parts, a representative embodiment of which is illustrated in, the accompanying drawings, in which:

1935, Serial No. 45,084

showing the gun at the instant after firing, a.

part of the shell being deformed and its deformation having initiated the movement which is utilized to perform the functions incident to reloading.

Fig. 4A is an extension of Fig. 4, the position of the parts corresponding to that shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional, side elevation showing the mechanism at the time when the breech locking member or action slide begins to move; the slide has not actually moved, and the breech block is still locked.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the breech unlocked but still in chamber closing position. Fig. '7 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation showing a portion of the receiver and the breech block and a portion of the breech operating mechanism in the positions they assume when the breech is fully open.

Fig. 7A is a continuation of Fig. '7, showing the relation of the breech actuating mechanism to the stock. I

Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of the receiver with the trigger plate removed.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a typical gun embodying the inventions. I

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section through the foreend, showing the relation of the action bar to a typical form of manual breech opening mechamsm.

Fig. 11 is a detail in elevation of the connection between the action bar and the manual action bar operating devices.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, sectional, plan view of a breech block comprising a modified form of actuator.

Fig. 12A is ification.

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the breech block shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation of a shot shell which in firing has been deformed and by its deformation has operated the mechanism for breech opening, shell ejection and reloading.

The.firearm to which the invention has been a similar plan view of a further modr efl em od s certain m e anismdis l sed in z 1 abutment 3s; The actuator i i z i I the patent to Jamming; No. ."1,'1 43;1"I0,'June 15, 1 .apertured toreceive a; firing pin a which niaybe I 1 anfi t e pat nt to 11%; 1,834,410; 'providediwith .azrctractingspring 4|; the assem December 1, 1931-, to which reierenceis made for l ly of. such a' firing pin being; facilitated: mar I I v z dditional Edetaiisi g rri eg comprises: a barrel ingthe actuator in two having amen ed; l U, tubular Lmagazine; 1H, and stock I2; secured: l connection; as above described. g'llheblreech biock I to ;a-,receiver l3. Theireceiveri proper: is'open at i is lon tudinally aperturedandcounterbored to 5the bottomrandgthefrnagazine;His loaded bythev receive the actuator, the shoulder 52' oi insertion: of; shelis or; cartridges through the ;bot-:- f counterbofre form-ing'an abutmentgi'or the shoul 1 1 l tom I of v the receiver; g The barrel chamber, i I Ideri 3.3 of theactuator head 32. 2 closed by? .a breech :block; [4 comprising a rear lustratedinithe drawings, particularly Fig; 12 the wardly facing shoulder 15 :adapted to i engage :af countcrbore, is of :slightly greater depth than the; i forwardly iacingi shoulder; E6: in the: top: of the I ihead 32.5 i when thabreech is clused thef actuator held forward (in a mannertd be hereinafter 3 receiver 5 for; the purpose of; {locking :the breech 1 p v y I I i hlockjinchambenclosing IIOSition', The rear: end i described) ,with :its forward :end I flush with th; 5 '1 v v of the breechblock is raised :and lowered to sue i cej of 118. breech blocln; leaving a. space I; be

E gage n dj engagejhe locking surfaces I; and: tween actuator head shoulder-53am breech block: r 7 is through the'cooperation of a foot l7 :0 f the I shoulder; 42.: i runner iorwardmovement of the 1 i actuator-is stopped byitheengiagementbfihead s85 the rear. end or the breechblockwhich 0 v v I :breech block with: a breech: locking: member or; 1 z 2 1 action} slide, 18; mounted; for; rectilinear I move-1 y p i p 1 l l :may be; recessed; to partially house the head 3 ment in;the receiver; 5 Said slide ,ts e'omiiriises a i i when the g Y surface :9 which supports the foot= :1 when the i 3 i breech is; locked; i i's reiady'to fire; these are i Y 1 g notch v2a havin I i been unlocked; :efiringmechanismmayi be of v v v v the: lower; rearward portion; of the; receiver. 1 :In I 5 said trigger plateare; arranged a trigger :24, hamfmer 2:5,hammer spring and hammerspring link preventingthe; of; a second shot withoutfirst January 28,: twist, and comprising a :lever; 52 8: adapted to be moved by the action slide l8 to positively hold the trigger in undepressed position, the trigger having previously been moved to this position through its engagement by hammer projection'29.

Suitab e mechanism for releasing cartridges from the magazine and transferring them to a position in front of the breech block is provided. The drawings indicate a mechanism similar in construction and operation to that described in the patent to Loomis, actuated by the action slide l8 and associated parts including an action bar ill having additional functions which will hereinafter be more fully described.

The automatically functioning mechanism of this invention comprises an actuator which is moved a short distance by the deformation of a part of the shell or cartridge fired in the chamber. A very short movement of the actuator initiates the movement of other parts which perform any or all of the functions of breech opening, shell ejection, transfer of cartridges from magazine to chamber, and breech closing and locking. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the actuator, indicated generally by the numeral 3|, is substantially housed within the breech block. Said actuator comprises an enlarged cylindrical head 32 terminating in a shoulder 33, a shank 34, and a cylindrical enlargement 35 forming a bearing surface. To the rear of the bearing portion 35 is a threaded boss 36 which receives an interiorly threaded collar 31 of a head 38 having an inclined rear face or .frofnt' 0f the: surface ZIS 3S: 1 i y p I I nclined; front and rear: cam" f c s J1 a 1- wmeh c op r t with he in 1 sides; of; ;i'oot; Hg to raise and lower :the brizechgbiock; at: the proper; time swin rectilinear 2 :movement of the slide: nd also: to; cause ithei ibreech; block to travel with the; slide, after it has i any: desired type I The mechanism selected for T f purposeof illustration; comprises devices which are i onouzntcd as a trait in a; trigger {plate 2:3 held in TL Any; desired mechanism may-be: provided for:

= releasing thei trigger; The drawings i indicate a 1 5 mechanism somewhat: similar to-that described in i 1 thezapplication of Loomis, Serial No. 653 ;968;flled shell forces: the por tii'on of the shell opposite i actuator head :32 ;rearwardly,driving the actuate j :to I the rear until the actuator head shnuider 3= movement is bulged outwardly or deformed; as summing the configuration: illustrated in F gs.

: the invention; utilized: to perform all the :tions of breech opening, shell ejection; loading The illustrative form: of mechanism io purpose; shown in the drawings is describe iflSfflHOWSZW'wI f i s fi E s to receive a housing for a portion of the mechanism operated by the actuator 3|. The-forward housing is secured to the rear end 5| of the receiver by suitable means such as a threaded connection 52. The forward housing 50 terminates in a threaded section 53 adapted to receive an interiorly threaded collar 54 of a rearward housing 55. Said rearward housing 55 extends substantially to the rear end of the stock, terminating in a flange 56 comprising slots 51 adapted to receive a. screw driver or other implement for assembly and disassembly. The end 53 of the forward housing projects slightly within the collar 54 to form an abutment for a driver head to be hereinafterdescribed. By applying a suitable tool to the slots 51 in the rearward housing the threaded joint between the rearward and forward housings may be disconnected and the stock removed without disassembly of the driver mechanism which is contained partly within said housings and partly within the receiver. Said mechanism comprises a driver, identified generally by the numeral 58, preferably a tubular member having an end face 59 adapted to abut the .rear face 39 of the actuator, and extends rearwardly therefrom through the forward housing 50 and into the rearward housing 55. Due to the inclination of the stock and the driver with respect to the axis of the actuator, the actuator face 39 is inclined, the face 59 of the driver being Preferably substantially perpendicular to its axis. Parts of the forward portion of the driver are .inthe' po ition il ustrated inFi 2. u on firing; the pressure within the chamber and the cartridge and 514.; 5 :The rearward movement of the actuate s; stopped; whenshoulder- 33 engages shoulder 42.: g I v movement; which is of the or'tier' of firi' 'f or glass, 15.51151; the present illustrative embodiment of I engages breech block: shoulder 42: I Tfhe head of r he: 81 6 or partridge which has performed this i apertin'id ans counter-bored i a a v cut away to provide clearance for the firing mechanism and for connections (to be hereinafter described) to the action slide I8. Near its rear end the actuator 58 comprises an enlarged head 80 of such a length as to provide an ample bearing upon the surface of the rearward housing 55. Said head is recessed to receive part of an action closing spring 6|, which spring abuts a shoulder 62 at the bottom of the recess. The opposite end of the spring abuts a shoulder 63 of a spring pilot 64 which extends within action closing spring 6| to prevent buckling thereof. Spring pilot 84 is held in the rearward housing 55 by suitable means such as a threaded plug 65 which may be recessed to loosely receive the end 66 of the pilot. Preferably a bufier 61 of suitable material is interposed between the plug 65 and the shoulder 63.

When the gun action is closed, the mechanism above-described is in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Under the impulse of the short but very forceful movement of the actuator 3| the driver 58 moves rearwardly, compressing the spring 6|, the parts assuming the position shown in Fig. 7A. The rearward movement of the driver is stopped when its energy of movement is consumed in compressing the spring 6| or when its rear end 68 engages the spring pilot collar 63, as illustrated in Fig. 7A. The force of the impact of the driver against said pilot collar 63 is thus cushioned both by the compression of action closing spring 6| and by the buffer 61. The action closing spring 6| being fully compressed, the parts immediately start return movement to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The movement of the driver as above described is utilized to perform the functions of breech opening, shell ejection, reloading, and breech closing, by mechanism one form of which'is illustrated in the drawings, and described as follows:

In firearms of the type described in the aforementioned Browning and Loomis patents all of these functions are performed by parts deriving their movement from the action slide 18 or the action bar 30. In the present firearm, the action slide is operated by the driver 58. For this purpose, said action slide comprises a T-slot having a transversely disposed portion 89 and a longitudinally disposed portion 10 opening to the rear of the action slide. Said slot receives a T-shaped head H of a connecting rod or driver link I2 pivoted at 13 toa piston rod M housed within and in part moving with the driver 58. Integral with said piston rod 14 or joined thereto, preferably by a threaded connection, (Fig. 4A) is a head 15 which may comprise a slot 16 to facilitate disassembly. The connection between piston rod 19 and driver link .12 preferably comprises a forked head l1 upon said rod,

being received between the arms of the fork and both link and fork being apertured to receive the pivot pin 13. Piston rod Id traverses'a reduced diameter aperture 18 in the driver, which apertureis of suitable length to provide an adequate bearing, and terminates in a shoulder 19 forming an abutment for a spring 80 interposed between said abutment and the head 15 of the piston rod.

the end of the link When the gun is. closed and ready to fire, driver.

58, piston rod 14 and head 15 are in substantially the relation shown in Fig. 4A. There is a gap between the end of the spring 80 and the shoulder 19, thus the driver must move by at least the length of this gap before any motion is transmitted to piston rod I4, link I2, and action slide l9. The spring 80 serves to cushion the blow which would otherwise be transmitted from the rapidly moving driver 58 to the stationary head 15. Fig. shows the mechanism at the time when the driver has moved a sufiicient distance to take up the gap or space between spring 88 and shoulder 19. The piston rod and associated parts have not yet moved and the breech is still securely locked. From this point, piston rod 14, link 12 and action slide I8 move rearwardly butguthe breech remains locked until the undersurface of breech block foot I1 clears the surface l9 of the action slide. At this time, the inclined forward face of foot I! engages the inclined or cam surface 2l of the action slide notch and draws the rear end of the breech block downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6, in which it will be noted that while the breech block has not yet moved rearwardly the driver has moved a substantial distance. During this interval the projectile or shot charge has left the gun barrel, and pressure within the chamber is diminished to such an extent as not to interfere with easy extraction of the fired shell. Movement of the action slide 18 serves not only to unlock and retract the breech block but likewise to eject the fired shell and effect the transfer of a fresh shell or cartridge from the magazine to a position in front of the retracted breech block from which it is pushed into the chamber as the breech block is advanced by the expansion of action closing spring 6!. Typical mechanism for this purpose is described in the aforementioned patent to Loomis.

Suitable means are provided for manually opening the breech to insert the first shell in the chamber. One form of mechanism for this purpose is illustrated in Figs. and 11. The foreend is in two sections, the rearward section 98 being suitably fixed to the receiver, the magazine tube and/or the barrel. The forward section 9| of the fore-end is held in place abutting the rearward section by a suitable means such as one or more springs 92 housed in a tubular guide 93 fixed in the section 9| and entering a recess 94 in the section 90. This construction permits section 91 to move forward with respect to'the fixed section 90. Fixed within and projecting rearwardly from the movable fore-end section 9| is a thrust rod 95. A pawl 98 controlled by a suitable spring such as the leaf spring 91 is pivoted to the thrust rod at 98. An abutment or cam 99 on a fixed part such as the magazine tube displaces the transversely projecting end of pawl 99 when the movable fore-end section 9| is in its rearmost'position. When section-9l of the'foreend is drawn forward a requisite amount, pawl 96 is rocked by its spring 91 to a position in front of action bar 30, and as the fore-end is drawn back to its initial position the action bar is thrust rearwardly, carrying with it the action slide [8 and perform vg allthe functions incident to the rearward movement of said slide. As the forward end section 9| reaches its normal position the tail of pawl 96 is engaged by the cam 99'and displaced.

the actuator head 32. In this modification,

and the exterior sleeve 322. There is thus provided a stepped or gradual displacement of the shell head metal from the head engaging surface of the breech block to the head 320 of the actuator. The rearward thrust of sleeves 32I and 322 is transmitted to the actuator through the lugs 3| I, which lugs likewise serve to restore the sleeves to a position flush with the fact of the breech block when the actuator is restored to its forward position at the end of the forward movement of the driver 58. Suitable means are provided for limiting the forwardmovement of the sleeves 32| and 322. As shown .in Fig. 12, a lug 328 on the extractor 329 extends into apertures 330 and 33| in the two sleeves. The length of the apertures is such that the lug 328 does not interfere with the movement of the sleeves abovedescribed. Fig. 12A illustrates a slight modification in which the lugs 3 of Fig. 12 are replaced by a pin 332 extending through head 320 and into suitably elongated apertures 333 and 334 in sleeves 32| and 322. Pin 322 both receives the rearward thrust of the sleeves and limits their forward movement.

It will be noted that when the breech is closed and no shell or cartridge in the chamber, forward movement of the driver is stopped by engagement of the head 60 thereof with the end of the forward housing thus preventing normal forward displacement of the breech block under the force of the action closing spring 6 The operation of the mechanism may be summarized as follows:

' The magazine being,loaded, a shell is transferred to the chamber by first drawing forward the front section 9|.of the fore-end until the pawl 96 clears the forward end of the action bar 30. The part 9| of the fore-end is then restored to normal position, its movement carrying the action bar to the rear and opening the breech while compressing thespring 6|. As the foreend piece 9| reaches its normal position, cam 99 disengages latch 96 from the action bar and the action is closed by spring 6|.

. The gun is now ready to fire, as shown in. Figs. 1 and 2. The forward end of the driver 58 engages the head 38 of the actuator, thrusting the actuator forward to leave a space 43 between the shoulder 33 of the actuator head and shoulder 42 of the breech block. The rear end of the breech block is tilted upwardly, in which position it is locked by the engagement of shoulder IS with receiver shoulder l6 and the breech block is held in this upward position by the engagement of the bottom of breech block foot I! with the upper surface IQ of the action slide.

.closing spring 6| is extended, as shown inFig. 1.

The slack connection between the. driver and the action slide operating devices stands in substantially the position shown in Fig. 4A Upon firing, the actuator 3|, being held forward'only by spring 6|, is forcefully thrust back by the high pressure within the shell, closing the gap 43, the shell or cartridge head assuming such a form The action as illustrated in Fig. 14. stopped when the gap 43 is closed but the driver 58 continues to move rearwardly, compressing spring 6|. substantially the position shown in Fig. 5, the slack in its connection with piston rod 14, link 12 and action slide l8, has been .taken up, and the action slide thereafter moves rearwardly with the driver. A jerky or abrupt starting of this mechanism is obviated by the use of the spring 80. As the driver and action slide continue to move rearwardly, the breech becomes unlocked by the withdrawal of the slide surface I9 from beneath foot l1 and immediately thereafter the breech block is lowered by the engagement of said foot I! in the action slide cam notch; thereafter the breech block travels rearwardly with the action slide. When the energy of the moving parts has been expended in compressing action closing spring 6 I said spring restores them to their normal positions. The driver thrusts the action slide and breech block forward as a unit until the breech block reaches its extreme forward position, whereupon it is disconnected from the slide and locked by the continued movement of 'the slide; and the mechanism comes to rest in the Fig. 2 position ready for the next firing, when the driver has engaged and moved the actuator to its forward position.

The embodiments of the inventions herein de-' scribed are to be understood as typical and illustrative only, said inventions being susceptible to embodiment in many other forms, all falling within the scope of the appended claims, which are to be broadly construed.

What is claimed is:

1. A firearm comprising a firing chamber adapted to receive a cartridge-of standard con: struction, a chamber closing and locking mechanism, comprising a yieldable member adapted to contact an integral part of the shell of said cartridge of standard construction in said chamber, means for firing said cartridge in said.

chamber thereby deforming and expanding the shell thereof and moving said yieldable member, and mechanism actuated by said yieldable member.

2. A firearm comprising a chamber adapted to receive for firing a cartridge of standard construction, a breech block for closing said chamber, a member held in said breech block and having a limited movement relative thereto, said member comprising a head constituting a major portion of the cartridge head engaging area of said breech block and adapted to be displaced by the deformation of a cartridge of standardconstruction under firing pressure, breech block moving devices, and means actuated by said dis- The actuator 3| is When the driver has thus moved to placement of said member for operating said breech block moving devices.

3. A firearm comprising a chamber adaptedto receive for firing a cartridge of standard construction, a breech block for closing said chamber, a' member held in said breech block and having a limited movement relative thereto, said member comprising a head having an exposed face normally flush with and constituting a major portion of the cartridge engaging face of said breech block and adapted to be rearwardly displaced by the deformation under firing pressure of an integral part of said cartridge of standard construction through a distance of the order of three-thirty-seconds inch, and mechanism operated by said member.

4. A firearm comprising a chamber adapted to contain a cartridge to be fired, a. breech block comprising a face adapted toengage the head of a cartridge in said chamber, a series of members in said breech block each comprising a 'face normally fiush with said face of said breech block and mounted for progressively increasing steps of movement relative to said breech block by the deformation under firing pressure of the shell of the cartridge in said chamber, and means for transmitting the movement of each of said series of members having a lesser movement to the member having the maximum movement.

6. A firearm comprising a chamber adapted to contain a cartridge to be fired, a breechblock comprising a face adapted to engage the head of a cartridge in said chamber, a series of members in said breech block each comprising a face normally fiush with said face of said breech block and mounted for progressively increasing steps of movement relative to said breech block by the deformation under firing pressure of the shell of the cartridge in said chamber, and means for transmitting the movement of each of said series of members having a lesser movement to the member having the maximum movement and for restoring all of said members to positions-flush with the face of the breech block in the breech closing movement thereof.

7. A firearm comprising a chamber adapted to contain a cartridge to be fired, a breech block comprising a. face adapted to engage the head of a cartridge in said chamber, a recess in the face of said breech block, mechanism in said recess comprising a series of concentric differentially movable members, means for transmitting the movement of each of said members to one master member, and mechanism operated by said master member.

8. A firearm comprising a chamber adapted to contain a cartridge to be fired, a breech block comprising a face adapted to engage the head of a cartridge in said chamber, a recess in the face of said breech block, a piston head in said recess, concentric rings in said recess surrounding said piston head, said rings and said piston head normally standing flush with the face of said breech block and being adapted to'be differentially displaced by the deformation under firing pressure of the shell of othe cartridge in said chamber, movement limiting means enabling a minimum of movement of the outermost ring, progressively greater movements of inner rings, and a maximum movement of the piston, means for transmitting the thrust of said rings to said piston, and mechanism actuated by said piston.

9. A firearm comprising a chamber adapted to receive for firing a cartridge of standard construction comprising a substantially fiat head and a substantially plain cylindrical-body, a breech block closing said chamber, locking means for said breech block, operating means for moving said locking means and said breech block in sequence, and an actuator for said operating under firing pressure of an integral part of the means adapted to be moved by the deformation shell of the cartridge of standard construction in said chamber.

10. A firearm comprising a chamber adapted to receivefor firing a cartridge of standard construction comprising a substantially fiat head and a substantially plain cylindrical body, a breech block closing said chamber, locking means for said breech block, operating means for moving said locking means and said breech block in sequence, and an actuator for said operating means adapted to be moved by the deformation under firing pressure, of an integralpart of the in said chamber, the construction and arrangement being such as to provide a delay in time between the movement of saidactuator and the movement of said locking means.

11. In a firearm, in combination, a firing chamber, a breech mechanism comprising a chamber closing breech block, fire control mechanism including a firing pin travers'ng said breech block, an actuator held in said breech block and adapted to 'be displaced relative thereto by the firing of a cartridge in said chamber, a driver adapted for actuation by said actuator, means associated with said driver for displacing said breech block to open said chamber, and means for restoring said driver and actuator to normal position.

12. In a firearm, in combination, a'firing. chamber, a breech mechanism comprising a. chamber closing breech block, fire control mechanism including a firing pin traversing said breech block, an actuator held in said breech block and adapted for a short displacement relative thereto by the firing of a cartridgein said chamber, a driver normally held in contact with said actuator and adapted tobe displaced through a long working stroke under the impulse of the short movement of said actuator, and connections for transmitting a portion of 'the movement of said driver to said breech block.

13. In a firearm, in combination, a firing chamber, a closing breech block, an actuator held in said breech block and adapted for a short displacement relative thereto by the firing of a cartridge in said chamber, a driver held in contact with said actuator and adapted to be displaced through a long workingstroke under the impulse of the short movement of said actuator, a piston associated with said driver, and a link having an oscillating movement with respect to said piston and connecting said piston to said breech mechanism.

14. In a firearm, in combination,'a firing chamber, a breech mechanism comprising a chamber closing breech block, an actuator held in said breech block and adapted for a short displacement relative thereto by the firing of a cartridge in said chamber, a driver held in contact with said actuator and adapted to be displaced under the impulse of the short movement of said actuator, a piston associated with said driver to be moved thereby, a slack connection between said driver and piston enabling preliminary movement of said driver independent of said piston, and a link connecting said piston to said breech mechanism.

:15. In a firearm, a receiver, a breech mechanism in said receiver, a stock, a breechmechanism operating train comprising a driver partly housed in said stock and extending into said receiver, said driver comprising a tubular body and a head, and a housing for said driver secured to said receiver and forming an abutment for breech mechanism comprising a chambershell of the cartridge of standard constructionlimiting the movement of said driver by engaging said head.

16. In a firearm, a receiver, a breech mechanism in said receiver, a stock, a breech mechanism operating train comprising a driver partly housed in said stock and extending into said receiver, said driver comprising a tubular body and a head. a piston in said tubular body, a. shoulder in said tubular body forming a one-way connection between said driver and said piston, a cushioning member between said shoulder and said piston, and connections from said piston to said breech mechanism.

17. In a firearm comprising a receiver, a breech mechanism in said receiver, a stock, a breech mechanism operating train comprising a driver partly housed in said stock and extending into said receiver, said driver comprising a downwardly opening slot terminating in a shoulder, a longitudinal bore in said driver communicating with said slot, and a secondary bore-in said driver communicating with the first bore and terminating in a second shoulder, a piston in said secondary bore adapted to abut said second shoulder to cause the piston to move with the driver in one.direction, a piston rod in said first bore joined to said piston, and a connecting head on said piston rod adapted to abut said first shoulder to cause the piston to move with the driver'in the reverse direction.

18. In a firearm, a receiver, a breech mechanism in said receiver, a stock, a breech mechanism operating train comprising a driver partly housed in said stock and extending into said receiver, said driver comprising a downwardly opening slot terminating in a shoulder, a longitudinal bore in said driver communicating with said slot, and a secondary bore in said driver communicating with the first bore and terminating in a second shoulder, a piston in said secondary bore adapted to abut said second shoulder to cause the pistonto move with the driver in one direction, a piston rod in said first bore joined to said piston, and a connecting head on said piston rod adapted to abut said first shoulder to cause the piston to move with the driver in the reverse direction, the spacing of said shoulders being such as to allow said driver a predetermined movement independent of said piston.

19. In a firearm, a receiver, a breech mechanism in said receiver, a stock, a breech mechanism operating train comprising a driver partly housed in said stock and extending into said receiver, said driver comprising a downwardly opening slot terminating in a shoulder, a longitudinal bore in said driver communicating with said slot, and a secondary bore in said driver communicating with the first bore and terminating in a second shoulder,. a piston in said secondary bore adapted to abut said second shoulder to cause the .piston to move with the driver in one direction, a piston rod in said first bore joined to said piston, a connecting head on said piston rod adapted to abut said first shoulder to cause the piston to move with the driver in the reverse direction, and a link joining said connecting head and said breech mechanism.

20. In a firearm comprising a firing chamber, a breech block adapted to close said firing chamber and to be locked in chamber closing position, and moving and locking devices for said breech block; means for unlocking and displacing said breech block at a predetermined interval after the firing of a cartridge in said chamber comprising an actuator moved as an incident to said firing, a driver impelled by said actuator, a piston adapted to be moved by said driver after said driver has moved a predetermined distance, and connections from said piston to said breech block moving and locking devices.

21. In a firearm, in combination, a breech block, a breech block controlling action slide, operating devices comprising an actuator in said breech block, a driver impelled by said actuator,

a piston moved by said driver, and a link pivoted to said piston, said link comprising a transverse head received in a T-slot in said action slide.

22. In a firearm, in combination, a firing chamber, a breech mechanism comprising a chamber closing breech block, fire control mechanism including a firing pin traversing said breech block, an actuator held in said breech block and adapted to be displaced relative thereto by the firing of a cartridge in said chamber through a short power delivering stroke, means operated through a long power transmitting stroke by the short power delivering stroke of said actuator, and connections from said means to said breech mechanism providing a delayed movement of said breech mechanism.

DAVlD M. WILLIAMS. 

